Cooking grill with baking oven insert

ABSTRACT

A high temperature grill structure with all the capabilities of a conventional outdoor cooking grill but which may easily be adapted for outdoor baking of pizza or bread or other such goods, which grill can utilize gas or charcoal or the like for flame generation, wherein the grill comprises a fire box and lid, a conventional flame source within the fire box, a removable oven insert, a removable grill element, a removable conventional briquette or baffle type flame diffuser, and wherein the diffuser and grill element are useable with or interchangeable with the oven insert by way of quick-change structure.

[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) (1) based on Applicant's Provisional U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 60/112,904, filed Dec. 18, 1998 and titled “Cooking Grill With Baking Oven Insert”.

[0002] This application is a continuation of Applicants pending Ser. No. 09/460,365, filed Dec. 13, 1999, and Applicant claims the benefit thereof under 35 U.S.C. 120.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field

[0004] This invention concerns the provision of an oven modified, stationary or portable grill, gas or charcoal fired, the oven modification of which is provided with a high temperature capacity heat sink, ceramic or metal platen, which modification can be in the form of an insert. This insert is adapted, if desired, to be used in conjunction with or to temporarily replace the ceramic or lava rock or other type flame diffuser of conventional outdoor gas grills, and also the grill element, and allow the grill to become a substantially closed oven which can generate temperatures such as about 700° F. for baking pizzas or bread or the like. The grill can also be manufactured in the singular form of a baking oven using either gas or charcoal.

[0005] 2. Prior Art

[0006] Applicant is unaware of any prior art which concerns a baking oven insert for a conventional outdoor cooking grill.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention in a broad embodiment comprises a cooking grill structure for outdoor cooking and having a firebox affixed to a base means, said firebox comprising wall means providing to said firebox an upper section having a substantially continuous and planar perimeter providing a grill opening, said wall means also providing a lower section to said firebox adapted to contain a fire producing medium, support means on said grill structure positioned above said lower section, baking means having a baking platen and being removably mounted on said support means, said platen having substantial thickness to provide a heat sink, housing means adapted to cover said platen to form a baking oven, and edge portions of said platen being spaced from said perimeter to provide passage means into said oven for hot gasses rising upwardly from said lower section of said firebox.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] In the drawings of FIGS. 1-10, wherein the structural portions are not shown to scale:

[0009]FIG. 1 is a side view of a typical gas outdoor grill with its metal side portions removed to show one embodiment of the present oven modification;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a front view of the grill taken in the direction of arrow 2 in FIG. 1 with the oven access door removed for clarity and with certain structure shown in cross-section for clarity;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of the FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows;

[0012]FIG. 4 is a front view of the grill of FIGS. 1-3 with a front portion broken away for purposes of clarifying the internal arrangement of the various structures;

[0013]FIG. 5 is a front view of a grill similar to FIGS. 1-4 with the front walls of the fire box and lid removed and showing a variation in the oven structure and arrangement within the grill;

[0014]FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the oven insert of FIGS. 1-4 with portions broken away for clarity;

[0015]FIG. 7 is a view as in FIG. 2 but showing substantially a conventional gas grill structure;

[0016]FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a variation of the present grill structure with the arrows showing the assembly and disassembly directions of the oven modification on a conventional grill, with or without a lid;

[0017]FIG. 9 is an isometric view of another variation of the present modification grill structure; and

[0018]FIG. 10 is a view as in FIG. 9 showing the oven platen access door in open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In the drawings, the FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a common gas or charcoal fired grill generally designated 10 and is provided with an oven access door 11 hinged at 13 and added on the front of the grill firebox 12 for purposes of the present invention. Basically, the conventional grill consists of a stand or other base 10, fire box 12, a housing means or lid 14 hinged to the back wall of the firebox at 15, a gas burner 16 comprised, for example, of a series of apertured gas supply pipes 17, a ceramic or baffled flame diffuser generally designated 18, and a grill or grid element 20.

[0020] The present grill modifications of FIGS. 1-4 and 7 comprise an oven insert having a substantially configured box-like housing means generally designated 22 having sides 24, 26, a back 28, top 30 and open front 31. The housing is preferably of stainless steel, and a ceramic or metal baking or platen 32 is provided upon which the pizza or bread or the like is placed for baking. This platen is preferably of ceramic material and capable of withstanding temperatures of about 1,000° F. or more, and preferably has a thickness of from about 0.5 to about 2.0 in. The platen is preferably held in place by a ridge 34 or equivalent structure on the floor 36 of the housing. The open central portion 38, FIG. 3, comprising the major area of the housing floor allows the flame to impinge directly on the platen 32.

[0021] For enhanced utility of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5 of the present grill structure for either conventional grilling or the present baking, the flame diffuser 18 features ceramic briquettes 40 contained in a rimmed stainless steel frame 42 and is readily interchangeable with the oven insert as shown in these FIGS. Both may slide in and out of the fire box 12 on side rails 44 interposed between the grid 20 and the gas burner 16. Access to the rails 44 is through access door 11 on the front of the fire box 12.

[0022] A vent 46 in top 30, and the heat flow gaps 48 and 50 in floor 36 may be provided with size adjustment structure such as sliding cover plates or the like such as are employed on conventional charcoal grill lids, for regulating oven heat retention or heat generating characteristics of the oven. In one embodiment, the entire oven may be cast as a monolithic ceramic item without the need for any metal parts. In a further embodiment aligned apertures 60 and 62 in the oven wall and fire box wall respectively, FIG. 3, are provided such that water can be squirted therethrough onto the hot surface 64 of the oven floor to cause an injection of steam into the oven for enhancing bread making.

[0023] It is noted that where the present invention is dedicated for oven use, the grill or grid element is not needed. Also, the present invention in any of the embodiments shown, particularly that of FIG. 5, can utilize a top entrance for the oven insert into the fire box with the elimination of door 11 since the grill or grid element typically rest on supports such as 52 such that they can be lifted out and cleaned. Suitable handles such as 54 for door 11, 55 for the grid top, 56 for the slidable oven, and 58 for the top entry oven may be provided.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 8, the present oven means or insert can comprise a box-like structure 65 but wherein the access door 68 to the baking platen 32 is hinged directly to the box. In this embodiment the box is placed either directly on the grid element 20 or, with 20 removed, on the grid supports such as 52. Also, the grill lid, not shown, need not be closed down over the box 22 for all types of baking. For maximum oven heating it is preferred that the box floor dimensions be about the same as the firebox opening perimeter 66.

[0025] Referring to the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10, the box-like structure 65 is not employed, but rather the platen 32 is simply slid in or out on grid 20 or its supports 52 thru the door opening 69 in lid 14. This platen is dimensioned to provide the hot air circulation ports such as 48 and 50. Again, the grill lid or side walls may be provided with any desired hot air venting structure.

[0026] With particular reference to the claims herein, the present cooking grill structure comprises a firebox 12 affixed to a base means 15, said firebox comprising wall means 19, grill opening 23 having a substantially continuous planar perimeter 66, said wall means providing a lower section 25 adapted to contain a fire producing medium, support means 27, 52 or 20 on said grill structure positioned above said lower section, a baking oven insert generally designated 29 mounted on one or more of said support means and having housing means 22 or 14 adapted to cover a baking platen 32 to form the baking oven, and at least one edge portion 33 or 35 of said platen being spaced from said perimeter 66 to provide passage means 48, 52 into said oven for hot gasses rising upwardly from said lower section of said firebox.

[0027] The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modification will be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A cooking grill structure for outdoor cooking and having a firebox affixed to a base means, said firebox comprising bottom, side and end wall means providing an upper firebox section having a top portion with an opening therethrough, and providing a lower firebox section adapted to contain a fire producing medium, said opening having a substantially continuous perimeter, support means on said grill structure positioned above said lower firebox section, baking platen means adapted to rest on said support means, baking oven housing means mounted on said grill structure and adapted to cover said platen means to provide a baking oven means, said platen means having a substantially flat upper surface and being comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of ceramic or metal and having a thickness of from about 0.5 to about 2.0 inches to provide a heat sink capable of reaching temperatures of about 700° F. for baking pizzas or bread or the like, and at least one edge portion of said platen means being spaced from said perimeter to provide passage means into said oven means for hot gasses rising upwardly from said lower section of said firebox.
 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said housing means comprises the lid of an outdoor cooking grill, and wherein said support means comprises a grid support of said grill structure.
 3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said support means comprises a grid element wherein said housing means comprises the lid of an outdoor cooking grill.
 4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said baking platen is mounted in a box-like structure having hot air venting means and an access door to said baking platen. A generally rectangular cooking grill structure for outdoor cooking and comprising opposing end walls, a front wall, a back wall, and a bottom forming a firebox adapted to contain a fire producing medium selected from the group consisting of one or more of wood, charcoal, or a gas fired unit, said firebox having an upper section with an open top defined by a substantially continuous perimeter, support means on at least one of said walls for supporting one or more elements selected from the group consisting of a cooking grid or a baking oven, baking platen structure having a substantially flat upper surface and being comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of ceramic or metal and having a thickness of from about 0.5 to about 2.0 inches to provide a heat sink capable of reaching temperatures of about 700° F. for baking pizzas or bread or the like, said platen structure being adapted for mounting on said grid or within said baking oven, said baking oven also being adapted to rest on said grid, baking oven housing means adapted to cover said platen structure, and at least one edge portion of said platen structure being spaced from said perimeter to provide a passage into said oven for hot gasses rising upwardly from said lower section of said firebox. The structure of claim wherein said housing means comprises the lid of an outdoor cooking grill, and wherein said support means comprises a grid support of said grill structure. The structure of claim wherein said support means comprises a grid element and said housing means comprises the lid of an outdoor cooking grill. The structure of claim wherein said platen structure is mounted in a box-like structure having hot air venting means and an access door to said platen means. 